Improving Your Throw
There's no single "correct" way to throw a dart — the world's best players use remarkably different techniques. But there are fundamentals that all good throwers share. Master these, and practice does the rest.
The Stance
Foot Position
Stand with your dominant foot forward, toes touching or just behind the oche. Your weight should be on the front foot — roughly 60-80% forward. Keep your body still.
- Side-on stance — Most common. Dominant foot parallel to the oche, body turned 45-90 degrees to the board
- Front-on stance — Some players face the board squarely. Less common but works for some
- The lean — Many experienced players lean their upper body forward over the oche for a shorter throwing distance. Legal as long as no foot crosses the line
Balance
Your stance must be stable and repeatable. You should be able to throw three darts without shifting your feet. If you're wobbling, you're leaning too far forward.
The Non-Throwing Side
Your non-throwing arm and hand aren't doing nothing — they're providing balance. Some players hold their remaining darts, others let the arm hang naturally. Find what feels balanced.
The Grip
The grip is the most personal element of your technique. General principles:
- Use at least three fingers — Thumb, index, and middle finger minimum. Some players use four or five fingers
- Firm but not tight — You need to release cleanly. A death grip creates tension and inconsistency
- No fist — Fingers not touching the dart should be spread open, not curled into your palm (curled fingers can catch the dart on release)
- Find the balance point — Hold the dart horizontally on your thumb and find where it balances. This is usually where your dominant finger should sit
Common Grips
- Pencil grip — Three fingers (thumb, index, middle) like holding a pencil. Clean, simple, popular
- Four-finger grip — Adds the ring finger for more control. Popular among players who prefer a steadier hold
- Front-loaded grip — Fingers forward on the barrel, near the point. Produces a direct, flat trajectory
- Rear-loaded grip — Fingers further back on the barrel. Produces a higher arc
The Throw
The Pull-Back
- Bring the dart back toward your face. Most players draw to their cheekbone, jawline, or just below the eye
- The exact position doesn't matter as long as it's the same every time
- Your elbow should be pointing at the board, roughly at shoulder height
The Release
- Accelerate the dart forward smoothly. The power comes from your forearm, not your shoulder
- Release point should be at approximately 45 degrees forward from your draw position
- Your fingers should open smoothly — don't "flick" the dart or snap your wrist
- Follow through: your hand should continue forward after release, fingers pointing at the target. Imagine putting your hand in the board
Common Mistakes
- Dropping the elbow — Your elbow should stay still and elevated during the throw. Dropping it changes trajectory unpredictably
- Full arm movement — Only your forearm should move (below the elbow). Your shoulder and upper arm stay still
- Rushing — Take your time. A consistent rhythm beats a fast one
- Aiming at the board as a whole — Pick a specific point. Don't just throw "at the 20." Aim at the wire above the treble 20
Aiming
The Dominant Eye
Close each eye in turn while pointing at the bull. The eye that sees your finger most accurately on target is your dominant eye. Use this eye for aiming — some players close their non-dominant eye while throwing.
Line of Sight
Align the dart, your dominant eye, and the target in a straight line. The dart should sit in your sight line between your eye and where you want it to land.
Target Selection
In 501, you'll spend most of your time throwing at treble 20. But understanding when to switch targets is important:
- Treble 20 — Standard target (60 points). If you're consistently hitting the 20 segment, stay here
- Treble 19 — Alternative scoring target (57 points). If your darts are drifting into the 1 and 5 either side of 20, switching to 19 might yield better averages
- Treble 18 — Another option (54 points). Some players find certain trebles more natural to hit based on their throw arc
Practice Routines
For Beginners: Round the Clock
Throw at 1, then 2, then 3, all the way to 20, then bullseye. Don't move on until you hit the current number. This teaches you to aim at every part of the board.
Time required: 15-30 minutes
Goal: Complete the sequence faster each session
For Beginners: 100 Darts at 20
Throw 100 darts (roughly 33 turns of three darts) at the 20 segment. Record your total score. Your percentage of darts landing in the 20 segment (any part) is your accuracy metric. Track this over weeks.
Starting benchmark: 40-50% in the 20 segment is decent for beginners
For Intermediate: Doubles Practice
Pick a double. Throw at it until you hit it, counting throws. Move to the next double. Track your average throws-per-double over time. Doubles are the game-winning skill in 501.
For Intermediate: Checkout Practice
Set yourself finishing scores (170, 141, 100, 80, 60, 40) and practice completing them. Learn the standard checkout paths. This is where games are won and lost.
For All Levels: The 20-Minute Session
A focused 20-minute practice session is worth more than an hour of unfocused throwing:
- 5 minutes: Warm up — throw at anything, loosen up
- 5 minutes: Scoring — treble 20 practice
- 5 minutes: Doubles — work through the doubles ring
- 5 minutes: Game play — solo 501, trying to finish in the fewest darts
Tracking Progress
Keep a simple log:
- Date, darts thrown, score achieved
- Average per dart (total score / darts thrown)
- Checkouts hit / attempts
- Any personal bests
Even a notebook by the board works. Watching your numbers improve over weeks is motivating.
Mental Game
Darts is profoundly mental. A few principles:
- Routine is everything — Develop a pre-throw routine (how you stand, how you hold the darts, how you breathe) and do it the same way every time
- Forget the bad dart — Your second and third darts shouldn't be affected by where the first one landed. Each throw is independent
- Stay positive under pressure — When you need a double to win, tell yourself you can hit it. Doubt is the enemy
- Practice under pressure — Play against others regularly. Solo practice builds skill, but competing builds nerve
The beauty of darts is that anyone can improve with focused practice. The board doesn't care who you are, where you're from, or how old you are. It only cares where your dart lands.